Australian Sports

Australian Sports

Sport in Australian Society

Australian people's lives are greatly affected by sport. In Australia, most
people will either participate in sport or watch sport, wether it at the
arena or on television, what ever you do it would be hard not be caught up
in all the hype surrounding sport. A lot of people will participate on
weekends at a social level, but some people will play representative sport,
that is the reason that many Australians have come to think of themselves
as a great sporting nation. It is these ideas that have allowed Australian
athlete's to become world champions.

People participate in sport not only for the physical values but the values
of team sprit, sportsmanship, relaxation and for some financial rewards.
Sport is - one or more people competing against another team or individual
to see who will win. Sport also is - a game played at a non-competitive
level. Some people however believe that competitive sport causes
narrow-mindedness or that winning and competition lead to individualism and
selfishness. Sport is open to people of any age or race. Anyone can
participate in sport, however as you get older you may be limited
physically to the amount or sport you play. Some other limitations may be
the resources available, your age, your time available or the costs
involved. A survey was said to be conducted by the courier mail titled,
"Yes, We Really Are Sports Mad". The survey had the following results, 88%
people in capital cities play sport with 1 in every 2 of those people
taking part in at least four sports a week. Swimming was seen to be the
favourite sport among participants with tennis, fishing, snooker and pool
close behind. Also in this survey it was said 2 out of 3 Australians that
live in capital cities will go to at least one sporting match a year.

The reason a large number of Australian lives are affected by sport is
because you hear about it every day, wether it be on the radio, in a
newspaper or on television. The Courier-Mail devotes a section of the paper
just to sport and so does the news services. On Foxtel and Galaxy there are
two sports channels and on Optus Vision there are three. On the AM radio
stations, there will be three or four minutes every half hour on sport. A
large section of the media is devoted to the broadcast of sport - everybody
had herd before they arrived home from school or work on Monday the 8th of
September that Patrick Rafter had won the singles tittle at the American
Open tennis championship, this is an example of how fast the media spreads
news about Australian sporting stars.

Anyone between the ages of 16 and 65 will watch some sport on television
during the year. Cricket is the most watched sport on TV although tennis,
Rugby League, Australian Rules Football, Motor Racing and Basketball also
draw large crowds ('Yes, we really are sports mad'. The Courier-Mail).
Results were poled in 1987, stating that watching television was an
Australians' favourite pastime. Informal sport was 9th on the results poled
and organised sport was 11th (See Table 1, Appendix). During an inquiry in
1992, it found that substantial numbers of teenage girls were quitting
sport (Williams, Peter, Health and Physical Education, 1995). In Victoria,
during the 70's the government recognised the inclination in
"spectatoritis" - people were spending more time watching sport on TV than
participating themselves (Williams, 1995: 103). In 1975, a large proportion
of the people of Victoria were asked the question - do you feel your
physical fitness to be important? With the majority believing their
physical fitness to be important, but not willing to do anything about it.

At the Atlanta Olympics, Australians were recognised not only individually
but also as a country that they were a force in sport not to reckoned with.
This was demonstrated in the 1500m men's freestyle, when Kieren Perkins,
who no one thought would win came back from what seemed were unsurmountable
odds and won. Perkins received a second reward for his 1500m performance
with the honour of being named Australian sportsman of the year. Kathy Watt
was also rewarded with the honour of sportswoman of the year, for her
efforts in the Olympics, namely cycling. If Australia sends performers like
this to the following Olympic's in Sydney and Athens, Australia should
continue winning medals.

Without a doubt I think that it is clear to say that sport plays a major
role in the Australian society. I think that it is also safe to say that
the television viewers of the sport are ever increasing and so are the
attendances at the venues - a crowd of 70 000 people is expected at a game
Aussie Rules. The participation in sport is declining with many people
dropping out at school. Programs are always being introduced to try and
remedy the increasing loss of participation in sport such as Women In Sport
program, which is designed pacifically to encourage the need for women in
sport. The participation levels in sport are unsure but Australians will
never forget the good times of not only winning but the enjoyment of sport.



Appendix

Table 1






Bibliography

1. Williams, Peter (1995).Health and Physical Education. South Melbourne:
Moreton Bay Publishing.
2. Entwistle, Theodore R. (1978). General Knowledge Encyclopedia. London:
Octopus Books Limited.



By Ryan B

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